Heel for boots or shoes



Nov. 8, 1927. 1,648,863

D. D. PoRsl ET AL HEEL Foa BooTs on sHoEs Filed March 2, 1927 'null-imm;

Patented Nov. 8, 1927.

UNITED -STAT DANTE D.- lroRsI HEEL Eon Boo'rs on sHoEs.

Application'led March 2, 1927. Serial No. 172,049.

This invention relates to improvements in shoe heels and especially wooden heels carrying an exterior covering of fabric, leather or similar material.

*Wooden shoe heels are usually coveredk discarding of the heel and its replacement by a new one.

It is an object of this invention to prevent the wooden heel and its covering from receiving the wear when the heel lift wears out by providing a protecting metal plate.

Another object of the invention is'to fasten the protecting metal plate to the heel covering and the heel at a plurality of points to hold the fabric covering in a secure and immovable position', thereby preventing air pockets which under the pressure created by walking, tend eventually toy force air between the heel and fabric, forming aballoon-like effect, destroying the continuity of the fabric covering and disintegrating the wooden heel, eventually forcing the fabric to give away.

Another object of thisinvention is to pro# vide simple, efficient and economical means for manufacturing the protecting metal plate. r

duction, as a new article of manufactureof a stamped metal plate adapted to be attachedl p to a heel to prevent the heeland its covering from wearing out. More specifically, the invention contemplates, as a new article vof manufacture, a heel having a fabric covering turned in at the bottom surface ofthe heel to form a facing and a protecting metal plate made. from a malleable metal comprising an exterior member having the configuration of the h-eel and a flange member integral with the exterior member embracing the facing and heel bottom to protect the same from wear. The malleable metal protecting plate is provided with a number of teeth capable of being bent over and fastening the turnedleather, or other fabric Broadly,'the invention comprises the proin fabric facingv resting against the bottom of the heel substantially immovably in place. i The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, the combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth andthe scope of the appli'- cation thereof will be indicated in the following claims. .The invention is illustrated in its pre` ferred embodiment in the accompanying drawing wherein:

vFigure 1 is a side view'ofa heel carrying the protecting metal plate A Figure 2 is a sectional view thereof; n fFigure 3 is a plan view of 'the' protecting metalplate with fastening members provided with a plurality of teeth or clawsadapted to be bent over and plunged into the fabric facing resting on the bottom surface of the heel or through the fabric facing 'and fastenedv to the bottom of the heel;VV Y

Figure 4 isa sectionalvview showing the teeth or claws of the metal protecting plate plunged into-the fabric to fasten the same to the bottom of the heel;

Figure 5 is a side view of a modification whereinvthe metal plate isprovided with holes for fastening the plate to the heel; Figure 6 is a side view of a heel carrying aA metal plate provided with an extending tongue;

' Figure 7 is a sectional view showing the teeth or'claws of the metal plate plunged through theheel fabric and into the. bottom of the heel;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the proteeting metal plate; and 1 Figure `9 is a bottom plan view of the heel, having attached thereto the protecting metal lat-e. Referring to the drawing, the h-eel 1 carrying the covering 2 is provided with a metal protecting plate 3y and a lift Li'which may be made yof any suitable natural or artificial material such as leather, rubber, or a synthetic composition. The fabric covering 2 covers the entire outer surface of the heel `1 and is turned in at the lower extremity thereof to provide a fabric selvage or facing 9, as indicated in Figures l and 7. They metal plate 3 is shaped to conform to the lower portion of the heel and comprises a verticalwall 5 and a turned in flange 6 provided with a plurality of fastening members Q2 releasesy 7 having teeth or claws 8 adapted to be plunged into the fabric selvage or facing 9 at a plurality of points, as indicated in F igure 4. In this form of the invention the teeth 8 do not entirely penetrate the fabric selvage or facing. In the modification shown in Figure 7, the teeth 8 not only pene# trate the fabric selvage or facing 9, but are plunged into the heel bottom l0, thereby fastening the selvage or facing to the bottom 10 of the heel at a plurality of points in a secure and immovable position. f

Either arrangement functions -to prevent the fabric. covering 2 from becoming worn or the heel bottom l0 from chipping or splitting when the lift 4; is worn out. It is desired to point out that although it has heretofore been proposed to protect heel bottoms with metal plates7 the `plates are4 construct# ed differently from.,the plates herein set forth, .function differently and are inherently defective in that all of them allow the formation of air pockets. Due to the vpressure created by Walkingthe plates heretofore used allowed air to be forced between the heel and the fabric, causing thefabric to assume a balloonhke effect. This is greatly intensified on damp days as the air is saturated with moisture and carries the same to the fabric covering 'at the lower portion of the heel. A similar effect results from the immersion of theheel Von wet `days in water. According to the present invention, the fabric facing or selvage 9 is securely and immovably fixed at a plurality of points, entirely preventing vor minimizing the formation of air pockets and theproduction of a balloon-lile effect, due to the air pockets, or contact With'water. Additionally, the present invention possesses the advantage of a quick and simple integral attaching means. It is only necessary after the plate 3 has been applied to the heel l to slightly bend over the fastening members 7 and insert the teeth 8 into the fabric facing or selvage 9 or through the selvage and intoV the heel bottom 10. The invention herein set forth has the further advantage of simplicity'. The heel plate 3A may be stamped out of any suit-able metahsuch as copper Vor copper alloys suitably treated so as to adapt them to a stamping treatment. In this connection it may be stated that the invention is not limited to the use of copper vplated of any metals or alloy which adapts -itself to stamping.

VIt is, of course, clear that instead of a galvanized rust-proof coating,l any rust-proofing means may be em- Vployed, as, for example, nickel or chromium The metal plate 3, when fitted. tightly against lthe lower outside covering 2, may be additionally fastened to the inside face of the heel by nails l2, as .shown in Figure l. However, it is preferred to ytasten the metal plate 3 to the outside lower portion of the heel at a plurality of points, as indicated in Figure 5, which shows holes 13 adapted to receive fastening nails., v

The plate Slmay be plain or VVornamental to give a pleasing, artistic appearance. For

example, the plate may be escalloped, as in-'v dieated at llt in Figures land 5.

In order toprotect the fabric cove-ring imv side of the heel, which is usually made from cheaper fabric than the outside, an vextending tongue l5 may be made integral with the metal plate, as indicated in Figure 6..

The metal protecting plate` herein set forth is applied primarily to wooden heels, butV obviously the' invention is.Y clearlyapplicable to heels made from other lnatural or synthetic products.

l/Ve claim: 1

l l. As anew articleof manufacture, a heel having a covering material turned in at. the bottom surface ofthe heel to. form a facing, and a protecting metal plate comprising an exterior member having theeonfiguration of vthe heel,y and a flange member provided with4 teeth to hold said facing and covering material substantially immovably in place.

2. As fa new article of manufacture, a heel having a covering material turned Ain at the. bottomof the heel to form a facing, and, a malleable protecting `plate `comprising an exteriorI member having the configurati-on of' the heel and a `flange member provided with bent teeth engaging said facing and fastening'said facing and lcovering material substantiallyimmovably in place. Y 'Y In testimony whereof wefhereuntoafix our signatures.

`DANTE' D. PORSI. GOING Y, 

